Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday

21st April 1926 was the day when Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the Queen Elizabeth II, was born. Actually, at the time of her birth, nobody would think she will become the Queen of the country. There was a great deal of public interest when news came through that the Duke and Duchess of York had become a proud parents of  a baby daughter. 

Her uncle, Edward, became the King after the death of George V, but he abdicated very soon. On 10th December 1936, Princess Elizabeth of York was with her sister, Margaret, in their London home, 145 Piccadilly, when she became aware of people shouting for her father outside. Her father was away and her mother was ill in bed. Finally, she went to ask a footman the reason for the commotion. He replied that her beloved uncle, Edward VIII, had abdicated and her father was king.

It didn't take long for Elizabeth to realise she will be the future queen. Previous queens had been obsessively prepared for the role. But although everything changed after the abdication, Elizabeth’s education remained as light as it had always been. At 145 Piccadilly, Princess Elizabeth had grown up jolly and carefree. Her lessons in the hands of the nursery governess, Marion Crawford, had been undemanding, with most of the timetable devoted to outdoor games, dancing and singing.

Despite this, Elizabeth was brought up with a profound sense of duty. She always put her job before her personal happiness and family commitments - some would say at considerable cost to her children. Since her accession in 1952 she has carried out more than 260 tours abroad, taking her away from her children sometimes for months at a time.

By nature Elizabeth is a countrywoman, happiest in a tweed skirt and headscarf walking her dogs, or in jodhspurs and hacking jacket riding one of her thoroughbreds. Even now, at her age, she enjoys a sedate trot across her estates at Sandringham, Balmoral or Windsor.

The Queen's reign has encompassed profound sociological change and development in the world, but her dedication to what, at times, must be a remarkably lonely job has never wavered. Elizabeth still commands respect and admiration throughout the world, as borne out by the affection shown by the constant crowds who gathered to see her on the occasions of both national and personal celebrations.

Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and Head of the Commonwealth. She is also Queen of 12 countries that have become independent since her accession: Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Queen surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-lived British monarch in December 2007, and the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015.

Happy Birthday, Ma'am!